Jakarta –
Body odor or armpit odor is really annoying. There are some people who have a problem with this so that it makes them not confident.
Especially in hot and sultry air temperatures, sweating is usually unavoidable. Various things are done to avoid body odor. However, this does not apply to South Koreans and Japanese.
A study analyzed the triggers for the tendency of South Korean and Japanese citizens to have less body odor than those in other countries. This is because there is a gene called ABCC11. These genes determine the type of sweat produced by a person’s body.
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
Basically, there are two main types of sweat glands, namely eccrine and apocrine. Eccrine glands produce thin, odorless sweat, while apocrine glands secrete a thicker, odorous substance.
Meanwhile, the ABCC11 gene controls the function of the apocrine glands. A specific variant of this gene is often found among East Asians, which reduces the production of smelly sweat by limiting the activity of the apocrine glands. According to research, around 80-95 percent of Koreans and Japanese people have this gene variant.
Apocrine glands, which are mainly found in areas such as the armpits and groin, produce sweat containing more protein and lipids. These compounds actually harbor bacteria, causing a stronger odor.
Meanwhile, people with the ABCC11 gene variant have less active apocrine glands so they produce less sweat which causes body odor.
However, genetics is not the only factor that influences body odor. Personal hygiene and cultural practices also play an important role. South Korean and Japanese society places great importance on cleanliness, with daily bathing and frequent use of personal care products being commonplace.
Origin of the ABCC11 Gene
Several years ago, scientists discovered a gene named ‘ABCC11’. The team that discovered this gene found that it is the main determinant of whether a person produces underarm odor or not.
“This key gene is basically the sole determinant of whether armpit odor is produced or not,” Ian Day, a genetic epidemiologist at the University of Bristol, told Live Science.
A mutation in the gene causes the body to be odor-free, while those without the mutation will feel the need to use antiperspirant in hot weather.
More than 97 percent of people of European or African descent have a version of the gene that causes underarm sweat odor, while most East Asians and, according to the study, almost all South Koreans do not have it.
About 30-50 percent of people from regions such as South Asia, Pacific Islands, Central Asia, Asia Minor, and Native Americans show mutations in the ABCC11 gene that also save them from underarm odor.
Watch Video “South Korea Approves Ban on Dog Meat Consumption”
[Gambas:Video 20detik]
(suc/naf)
2024-02-08 13:00:49
#Facts #ABCC11 #Gene #KoreanJapanese #People #Dont #Armpit #Smell
